Refrigerating apparatus



Paienied'nev. 16` 194s v:Kelyinato r Coi-poration, Detroit, Mich., s. corporation of Marrland f sponsoriser-ebrea@ s, i942, serial i 2 Claims. (Cl. 22o- 15) The presentl invention vpertains to refrigerating apparatus and 'more particularly to lcabinet construction.

It is an object `of prescritI invention toflr'- vde in a cabinet having-inner and-outer'casings an improved arrangement for the Securing vand supporting of 4the inner casing to the outer cas- .mg

It is another-` object of the present invention to'provide 'in a-cabinet an vimproved arrangement for securing a breaker strip joining the inner and outer casing ,.an d forming' the front wall ofthe cabinet.l f Y ,4 f 'It i'sa further objectief the presen-t invention to provide the outer casingo'i a cabinet. With a suspended boxlilre -frarne member within which is set and securedthe inner casingor liner which upon the portion 34, as at 36, and continued a determinatedistance along the side wall to be bent at right angles thereto, for forming an inwardly extending wall 31 in space parallel relation to the front wall 34. The wall portion 31 forms with the front wail 34 an open `pocket 39. Similar construction for forming pocket 39 is formed along the'opposite side 'of the casing 2B, in the top wall portion .29, and in the connecting mem-.i ber 4.0. The connecting member 40 is secured between the side walls 3 of the casing 26 and is flush 'with the front wall portion 34, and formsV therewith a rectangular' opening 42 -in the front wall ofthe outer casing 26.

`forms the walls. of la' food storage compartment.. l

It is a still further object ofthe present invention to secure the breaker strips tothe cabinet prior to the'insertion and securementoi fthe-liner within the ,cabinetr 1.

The invention itself, however, both 'esito -itsorganization, and its method of operation to gether with additional objects and advantages thereof; will best be understood from the following description .of speciic embodiments when read in lconjunction with 'the accompanying l' drawings, in which; In the drawings a respective gusset member 46.

Fie. 1 is 'a front elevatonal'vew Withfparts broken away andparts shown in section `of a cabinet embodying the .present inve'ntion:`

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged cross secl tional View taken alongline 2`-.2;oi .-1"ig. 1

Fig. 3 is a fragrnentaiy enlarged cross sectional view taken valong line-3 7?t offFig. 1

Fig. 4 is a vcross sectional viewftalren along line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a -fragmentary cross sectional view taken-along line 5f-.5 of'Fig; land Figf is afragmentary lcross sectional view of a modiedform of the'invention.

Shown in the draw-ings is a refrigerator cabinet 20 having a food'sto-rage lcompartment 22 and.-

a machine compartmentzll, insulatedtherefrom. The cabinet 20 comprisesan outer shell,V caus-v ing or liner v26 and an inner shell. casing vor v Iliner 21. The outer casing 2:6v comprises top 'wall 29 and side Walls 3,0 formed asa unitary-structure from a single. sheet of `metal and .to which is secured by weld a panel "32v forming-forear wail" ported thereby is the inner liner 21. The liner In each corner of the opening 42 is a gusset member 46. Each gusset member 46 issecured :at its ends to the rear face portion of the `wall portion 31byweld-or the like. Fixedly secured `tofthe gusset members and rigidly supported thereby is a frame member 50. The frame membericomprises spaced parallel verticalbar or rail sections-52 joined at their ends by horizontal barprrail sections, vand secured 'together by weld, or the like, in a box-like frome. Securedly aiixed adjacent each end of the vertical bars are ears' 56 adapted to be secured by screws 51 to 'I'he gusset members'are each formed with an indented portion 59 to permit the ear to lie flush or below the surf-ace of the gusset. Suitable spacers 60 are interposed `between each ear and gusset .member, which may be formed of suitable heat therebetween.

Set within the frame member to be supinsulation material to prevent heat conduction 21 comprises side, top,. bottom and rear Walls which forms the walls of the food storage compartment 22. The liner 21 is secured by studs 62 The studs 62 are' to the vertical bar sections 52. adapted to thread into a speed n ut 64 formed as-,a lll-shaped clip. The nuts` 64 are secured at vspatialydistances along the vertical bar sec- ,tions 5 2, and are frictionally tensioned upon the bar, and adapted to embrace opposite sides thereof. The nuts .are positioned over enlarged openings formed in the bar through which the 'tinteadable'shank of a stud is vadapted to project to thread into 4one ofthe legs of th'e'V-shaped nut. By this'arrangement,'the nuts are readily movable for alignment. with a respective opening in a wail of the mier `thereby faeuiieting proof the cabinet. The frontl marginal edge of the casing 26 is bent to form a front-wallportion 34 which is provided with extended metal doubled duction and -assembly of the cabinet. If desired. the stud may directly thread into the vertical barv sections 'The studs vare each provided with a projecting portion 65 over which is fitted a flexible cap 66 and serves as a rest, or hanger for a self 69 provided in the food storage compartment 22.

Each bar section 52 and 54 forming the frame 5 structure 50 is formed with a flange section 10 which lies in the same plane with the wall section 31 of the outer casing in spaced apart relation. Secured to the flange by screws, clips or other fastening means is a breaker strip 1i whose l0 opposite edge is adapted to extend intothe pocket 39. The breaker strip may be formed of Bakelite," Masonite, plastic or other non-heat con-f` ducting material. The breaker stripsare attached along the top, sides and bottom of opening 42 and 1'5 forms with the wall portion 34 the frontwall of the cabinet. f

To cover and conceal the securing means airlxing the breaker strips to the ange' 10 the mar- .ginal edge of the sides, top and'bottom walls of 20 the liner 21 adjacent the access opening 12 is flanged outwardly to overlap a marginal portion of the breaker strip to form a front wall portion 14. The front wall l14 is formed of double thickness having a portion' thereof doubledupon it- 25,

self, as at 16. y .l l

The access opening 12 to the food storage compartment is closed by a swingably mounted-door 90 having a peripherally ,I extending` gasket 92 adapted to sealiagainst the face portion of the front wall 34 to prevent entrance of air` into the food storagevcompa'rtment. Thev circulating air in the food storage compartment is cooled by a suitable evaporator 11 which is connected to a compressor-condenser (not shown) forming a re- 35 frigerating system. a,

In the assembling of the cabinet the insulation is placed in position and the frame-member A50 is breaker strips are set in. place by having one 40 edge inserted in pocket 39 and thel other edge secured by screws -to the frame member- -50. The liner 21' is then inserted through the front of the cabinet into the frame member Sil and moved .A within the outer casing until the openings in the liner are aligned with the 'frame member-.for s e curement by the studs 62. The caps 66 are then secured upon thestuds. The front Wall portion 14 of the liner will rest againsthe breaker strip 50 serving to cover the securing means, and also provides means for further clamping and holding the inner edge of the breaker strip in securement as Wellas preventing warping or turning of the edge thereof.

In the coating of the inner liner 21 byvitreous ..55 enamel, or the like, it is desirable to protect sharp corners and edges to prevent chipping and to this end there is lshown in Fig. 6 a covering comprising of a' striphaving a portlon96 frictionally held between the breaker strip and iront wall portion 14 and a portion bent to extend around the edge of the wall' 14 and overa marginal portion of the wall, as at 91. The covering strip is extended longitudinally along the wall portion 14.

While I have shown and described the preferred forms of my invention I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details as shown and described but wish to avail myself of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope'of the appended claims.

1. A refrigerator cabinet comprising an outer casing arranged to form top and side walls of the cabinet and including an inwardly directed portion extending aro nd. the front of the cabinet," an inri-ercasing sitioned within said outer kcasing and being arranged in spaced apart relationship. saidinner casing including an outwardly directedportion extending toward the inwardly directed kxportion of the outer casing but terminating in spaced relation thereto and on substantiallythesameplane at the front of the cabinetinsi1lati on positioned between said cas-v ings4 Y'a'lireali'er strip positioned between said casings at-the rear ofsaid inwardlyand outwardly l ."directed portio'risfof said' casing's'; aI rectangular frame eiribracingjzsaid inner'cas'ingatthe rear of said outwardlydirect'ed portion an'd'in'cluding a flange,l means positioned, entireiyfat the-rear o! said outwardly directed portion of the inner casi ing for securing said'br'eaker strip to'said flange, 'means' for 'securing saidffrar'n to'said outer-.cas-

ing', andmeansibr securing said'inner .casing to 2. A refrigerator cabinet-*comprising ari-'outer casing arranged to lform Ito'p andside wallsof the g g .tion extending around the-jfront of vthe cabinet, secured to the outer shell 26 after which the an inner ca'singp'ositioned Iwithin said outer casing and lbeing varranged. in spaced apart relationdirected portion extending toward the inwardly directed 'portion' of'fthe outer casing but terminating in, spaced relation thereto andon substantially the'same plane'at the-:front of the cabinetinsul ation'positioned Ybetween said casings, 'a breakerstrip positioned between said "casings at the rear of said inwardly a'nd outwardly 5 directed'lportions of said casings, a rectangular frame embracing said inner casing at the rear of said outwardly directed-portionand including a ange, means positioned,entirely at the rear of said outwardly directed portionA of ythe inner casing'for securing said b reakerjstrip to said ange, gussets-extending acrossthe' corners of said outer casing, means for v'securing saidfrarne to'said gussets, andmeans for securing' said inner casing to said framdsaidlattermeans extendinginto said innercaslng and vforming a'supporting element within said casing.

- RALPH E. BAKER. 

